Steeple Cove Man
On Sunday 28th March 1999, the decomposed body of a young man was discovered at Steeple Cove, near Soar, in Devon, England. A temporary filling in his lower right first molar indicated that he may have sought emergency dental treatment in the weeks or months prior to his death.
What we know
Date found: 28th March 1999
Location found: In a fissure in the rocks at the bottom of 600ft high cliffs at Steeple Cove, between Soar Mill and Bolt Head near Soar in South Devon, England.
Ethnicity: White European
Height: 180cm – 183cm / 5ft 10in – 6ft 0in
Age range: 18-25 years
Build: Thin/slim
Hair: Dark brown, around 3 inches long
Pathology: The man was believed to have been deceased for several weeks, possibly up to three months. A large, temporary filling in his lower right first molar could have been an emergency repair. It was thought that by the condition of his teeth, he may have worked in the catering trade. Toxicological tests confirmed that he had overdosed on sleeping pills.
Steeple Cove, Devon
Possessions
A number of items were found on or near to the body of Steeple Cove Man including:
A suicide note that looked to have been written by a teenager was found nearby. It read: "I have no family. I have no friends. I die alone."
£180 in cash
Royal blue woollen ‘Nike’ shirt
Blue denim jeans
Olive green ‘Nike’ hooded windcheater
Brown ‘US Brass’ lace-up boots with spanner and nut pattern on the soles, the left blue, the right green
Yellow metal 'Sekonda' chronograph watch with yellow metal wristband. The watch had a white face with three small dials, one of which was missing a hand.
Police efforts in 1999
Considerable efforts were made in 1999 to identify the young man. Dental checks were run on four missing people from the Devon and Cornwall area, but none were a match. National Police Computer records of missing persons were checked, and a nationwide alert was made. Scotland Yard’s Missing Persons Unit was brought in, but by May had been unable to make a positive identification.
Enquiries were made with shoe shops in Plymouth regarding the boots’ code numbers in the hope that a manufacturing batch could be identified along with the outlet that had sold the boots.
In July, a final appeal was made to dentists who might remember carrying out emergency treatment between the New Year and March 1999 on a man matching his description, and photographs of his jacket, boots and watch were published.
Despite these and other efforts, all attempts to identify Steeple Cove Man at the time were unsuccessful.
Key events of the time
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![Euro notes fanned out]()
Introduction of the Euro
The Euro was introduced in January 1999 as a unified currency for many European Union countries, marking a significant step towards European economic integration.
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![TV with LGBTQ flag filling the screen]()
Queer as Folk
On 23rd February 1999, Channel 4 debuted Russell T Davies' groundbreaking series Queer as Folk.
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![Interior of a West End Theatre]()
Mamma Mia!
The ABBA musical Mama Mia! premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre in London in March 1999.
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![A room decorated for Christmas with a radio front and centre]()
Christmas number one
1998’s Christmas number one was secured by British girlband The Spice Girls with their song Goodbye.
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![Satellite image of a hurricane]()
Hurricane Stephen
Also known as the great Boxing Day storm, hurricane Stephen was an Atlantic windstorm that peaked on 26th December 1998 when it made landfall in northwest Ireland. Mean over-land wind speeds reached 97kmh (60mph), whilst gusts were recorded at over 160kmh (100 mph) at some locations.
Questions you can ask yourself
We’re confident that after all these years, Steeple Cove Man’s identity can be found thanks to just one person with one piece of information.
You may have elderly family, friends or neighbours who might be able to recall meeting or seeing him in the late 1990s? If you could share our appeal with them or talk to them about this case, it may jog someone’s memory. The smallest piece of information could solve this case.
Do you remember Steeple Cove Man’s body being found? Is there anything else that you could tell us about the discovery?
Did someone you know unexpectedly stop contacting friends or family in late 1998/early1999?
Were you a dentist at the time? Do you remember giving a young man a temporary filling in his lower right first molar?
Were you in the catering trade? Do you recall working with a young man matching Steeple Cove Man’s description?
Steeple Cove Man had overdosed on sleeping pills. Were you a GP in the late 1990s? Do you remember prescribing sleeping pills to a young man matching Steeple Cove Man’s description?
In today’s money, £180 is worth around £400. If you worked in a bank, building society or Post Office, do you recall serving a young man who withdrew a substantial sum of money in February/March 1999?
There is always hope, and you could be the person that makes the difference.
No matter how seemingly small the information you have, it really may be the answer we need. Information provided can be submitted anonymously, and submissions will be treated in confidence. Everything we receive will be reviewed by our dedicated team of volunteers. Please do not use this form for emergency assistance in locating a person. Please call 999.